Geneva-based private bank and wealth management firm Union Bancaire Privée (UBP) is launching the UBAM Biodiversity Restoration fund, in collaboration with players in the financial, corporate and conservation sectors.
The fund identifies and invests in solution-providers that protect and restore species through their products and supply chains, as well as natural habitats across the globe.
The global all-cap portfolio, composed of 45 to 55 stocks, focuses on seven industrial verticals, such as the sustainable management of natural resources, green cities and sustainable food production.
The goal, according the firm, is to create a nature-positive portfolio which will follow a similar selection and engagement process to that UBP applies to its existing impact funds.
The fund is co-managed by Victoria Leggett, head of impact investing Charlie Anniss, senior portfolio manager and Adrien Cambonie, fund manager and impact analyst.
“It’s time to broaden the focus from ‘carbon-neutral’ to include ‘nature-positive’. The level of awareness of the biodiversity crisis is where climate change was 5–10 years ago, and there is now a huge amount of momentum behind it, including the UN’s ‘Decade on Ecosystem Restoration’ and COP15 on biodiversity,” said Legget.
“The associated regulatory shift and capex support should drive change in the investment opportunity set and with it return for investors,” she added.
The fund is currently registered in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK.
According to the bank, $44 trillion worth of economic value generated each year is dependent on nature, equating to more than 50% of global GDP.
UBP has teamed up with two biodiversity partners, the Cambridge Conservation Initiative (CCI) and the Peace Parks Foundation, and plans to invest 25% of its management fee directly in their conservation, academic and policy-making capabilities.
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