ANZ invests US$50 million in climate change advisory firm Pollination

ANZ has announced a US$50 million investment in global climate change investment and advisory firm Pollination.

The bank’s minority equity stake in Pollination represents ANZ’s commitment to drive the net zero transition for its customers and support biodiversity, a spokesperson said.

Pollination works with corporate, government and financial institutions to establish “nature positive business models” and spans 120 experts across 13 countries.

“We’re pleased to be partnering with a team that has strong climate finance and investment expertise, deep relationships and commercial momentum. These credentials, combined with ANZ’s long-standing leadership position in sustainable finance and debt capital markets, will bring significant opportunities for our customers,” said ANZ group executive institutional, Mark Whelan.

“This partnership also underpins ANZ’s strategy to support customers in the transition to net zero, while helping cement our position as a leading Environmental Sustainability bank in the region.”

Pollination’s expertise in climate finance, carbon projects and environmental sustainability-focused corporate advisory is set to support ANZ’s sustainable finance focus.

Data from Bloomberg and ANZ reveals that the bank is estimated to have contributed approximately 5 percent of 2021’s global sustainable finance deal volume.

According to co-founding partner of Pollination, Martijn Wilder, “ANZ’s investment unlocks capital to accelerate Pollination’s own investment strategies, and the strategic partnership will deliver the next generation of sustainable finance products, at significant scale throughout Asia Pacific.”

ANZ’s investment in Pollination follows the organisations recent SAFE capital raise and makes up part of its Series B round.

“Strategic partnerships are core to Pollination’s impact model – they extend our reach and scale far beyond what we could achieve alone. ANZ has a strong track record of delivering innovative sustainable finance products. With a presence in 14 markets across Asia, it has exceptional reach where investment in decarbonisation and nature is both critically important and a huge opportunity,” said Wilder.

The partnership provides ANZ with a seat on the Pollination board.

Mark Whelan (left) and Martijn Wilder (right)
Arsineh Houspian