Pollination and Mizuho Bank announce strategic partnership to drive the global decarbonisation and nature agenda
- The partnership combines Mizuho Bank’s scale as a market-leading institutional bank with Pollination’s deep climate and nature advisory and investment capabilities.
- It comes as Pollination marks five years since launching and further expands its global reach.
- The milestone builds upon significant growth in that time, with a presence across four continents, more than 250 global clients, and establishment of Climate Asset Management, a dedicated natural capital asset manager that has raised more than US $1bn for natural capital.
5 November 2024: Pollination, a leading climate and nature solutions firm, today announces a strategic partnership with Mizuho Bank that will help drive decarbonisation of the global economy and a nature positive future.
Mizuho Bank will invest US $20 million for a minority equity stake to further accelerate Pollination’s growth, including its investment strategy and decarbonisation projects. The partnership also extends Pollination’s reach in key markets including Japan, South-East Asia, EMEA and Australia, and will enhance Mizuho Bank’s ability to support its clients in development and implementation of decarbonisation and nature strategies.
The partnership will focus on supporting clients across hard-to-abate sectors to implement their climate and nature transition strategies. This will include providing strategy and advisory support, access to investment opportunities and assets in transition sectors, as well as working together to create new approaches to transition and sustainable finance. The partnership will look to specifically support clients as they expand their work and investment on nature, including TNFD readiness, natural capital and biodiversity strategy, and participation in carbon markets. It will also seek to mobilise capital into Pollination’s projects and investments businesses.
Strategic partnerships have been core to Pollination’s impact model since it launched five years ago. They include a strategic partnership with and investment in Pollination by ANZ Bank in 2022, and the launch of Climate Asset Management, a joint venture with HSBC Asset Management in 2020, that recently announced it had raised more than US $1bn for natural capital projects.
Martijn Wilder, Founder and CEO of Pollination said: “Mizuho Bank is a highly sophisticated partner in sustainable finance. This investment is a significant vote of confidence in our business, marking the beginning of a powerful strategic partnership that will accelerate our reach and impact.”
Tony O’Sullivan, Founder and Executive Chair of Pollination, said: “In light of the critical role of finance in unlocking climate and nature solutions, particularly across Asia, we are delighted to have established such a significant partnership.”
Yasuhiko Ushikubo, Mizuho Financial Group’s Group Chief Sustainability Officer said: “Clients face a wide range of issues and needs related to sustainability, and the pace of change is increasing. In order to support them, specialised knowledge on sustainability on a global basis is essential. Through this alliance with Pollination, a strong partner, we will support our clients in developing and implementing strategies to deal with these sophisticated problems, and contribute to resolving climate change issues and realizing a nature-positive future not only in Asia but the rest of the world as well”
The investment comes as Pollination marks its five-year anniversary, and continues to build its presence across Australia, North America, Europe and Asia.
To support Pollination’s growth ambition, the firm has recently appointed Kalika Jayasekera as its Chief Operating Officer to meet the needs of a global client base. Ms Jayasekera played a key role in transforming Softbank’s Vision Fund Investment Management business. Prior to that, she was responsible for driving and implementing significant operational change at Blackstone in her role as EMEA Head of Regulatory Affairs and Compliance.
This follows the recent appointment of energy transition and innovation leader Audrey Zibelman to the Pollination board. Ms Zibelman was CEO of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) between 2017 and 2021. After leaving AEMO, she worked as a Vice President at Google’s X, the moonshot factory, leading an innovation initiative relating to digitisation of electricity grids.
About Pollination
Pollination is a specialist climate and nature solutions firm, dedicated to accelerating the shift to a net zero, nature positive and resilient future. Launched in 2019, the organisation has a presence across The Americas, EMEA and Asia Pacific. It works with financial institutions, corporates and governments to design and implement ambitious transition strategies.
Pollination brings together world leaders across finance, investment, corporate governance and strategy, technology, law and policy; allowing it to connect dots and see around corners. It provides best-in-class strategic advice, execution and transaction support, as well as a pipeline of climate and nature technologies and projects for those seeking to access transition opportunities.
About Mizuho
Mizuho Financial Group, Inc. is one of the largest, full-service financial institutions in the world, with approximately 65,000 employees, 150 years of banking experience, and assets of approximately JPY 278 trillion on a consolidated basis. It has a global network encompassing financial and business centers in some 36 countries/regions around the world, in addition to a nationwide network and one of the largest customer bases in Japan.
Rooted in some of the largest, most influential financial institutions in Japanese history, Mizuho has been an important part of its clients’ growth for more than 150 years. Its financial strength, expertise, client focused values, and unwavering support makes Mizuho a trusted banking partner.
As a full service financial group, Mizuho combines extensive industry and local market expertise, a broad geographic presence, and a comprehensive range of financing and advisory solutions. Its services include corporate, syndicated and project finance, and cover loan and debt capital markets, that address both industry and client needs.
Media contacts
Oceania & Asia – Daniel Silkstone | daniel.silkstone@pollinationgroup.com
EMEA & North America – MHP Group | Pollination@mhpgroup.com
