Pollination, a leading climate and nature solutions firm, have announced 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.