Press Release
Introducing NatureBank

NatureBank is at the intersection of finance and natural assets, producing long term, sustainable returns.

Oct. 20, 2015, Vancouver, BC – In response to growing demand for sustainable commodities including cocoa, carbon and timber, Vancouver, BC-based company Offsetters Climate Solutions has formed NatureBank Asset Management, through a merger with Forest Finest Consulting, a German sustainable commodities company.

The Forest Finest team has been responsible for the development of $100m of projects and brings that expertise into the new company and into North American public markets. NatureBank Asset Management Inc., provides advisory, technology, and impact investment services for carbon management and natural capital sectors including cocoa and agroforestry.

NatureBank includes the combination of Era Ecosystem Services and Forest Finest Consulting Inc. under the NatureBank banner, while the voluntary carbon brands of Offsetters and CO2OL will continue to operate as subsidiaries under NatureBank. The company will be headquartered in Vancouver, British Columbia with international offices in Portland, Oregon, Zurich, Switzerland and Bonn, Germany.

“The launch of NatureBank represents the beginning of a new era for our company, allowing us to build on our work that is based on the shared ethos of sustainable investment and environmental preservation and enhancement,” says James Tansey, CEO of NatureBank. “When we chose the name NatureBank, we recognized that consumers and companies are driving increased demand for a wide range of sustainable commodities that are tied to the preservation of global forestry resources. ‘NatureBank’ captures both the concept of saving the most critical natural capital assets and also the opportunity to meet rapidly growing market demand for sustainable commodities. The sustainable commodities sector is already worth $31bn and is growing by 41% annually and so by investing in nature we are also investing in growth.”

As an outcome of this merger, NatureBank will expand its focus to expand beyond carbon management to become an international advisory services provider, project developer and project investor, with foundations built on world class expertise from the former companies. The biggest growth opportunities will come from the development of a portfolio of investable projects of up to $100m that will be presented to investors in North America and Europe over the coming year.

When Offsetters Climate Solutions formed a decade ago, the company was small, but with big ambitions. The goal for the team at Offsetters was to provide services to help companies and individuals understand, reduce and offset their carbon footprints., allowing them to be leaders within their sector.

Throughout its first decade, the company created, developed, and implemented carbon management strategies for consumers through their work with companies such as Harbour Air Seaplanes, Hemlock Printers, and Vancity. In 2008, Offsetters was awarded the role of delivering the greenest Olympic games when they became the Official Offset Provider for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic & Paralympic Games.

Offsetters continued to expand and began working with Fortune 500 companies such as Dow and Aimia. In addition, the company was able to continue its involvement within the international sporting event world, providing carbon management solutions for the Grey Cup, Baltimore Indy, and America’s Cup. Offsetters is a proud and long-time partner of the Canadian Olympic Committee, providing the carbon offsetting for the Canadian Olympic Teams for London 2012, Sochi 2014, and the upcoming Olympic Summer Games in Rio (2016).

Forest Finest is a leading land-use consultancy group with offices in Germany, Panama and Vietnam, advising project developers in the planning and successful management of sustainable forestry and agricultural projects worldwide. The team will bring over 20 years expertise to NatureBank with a highly qualified core team and a wide network of leading experts, they assist companies, impact investors, non-governmental and public organizations in the development, implementation, management and certification of cocoa, forestry, agroforestry and carbon forestry projects worldwide.

As an outcome of this merger, NatureBank will expand its focus beyond voluntary carbon management – a role still managed by the Offsetters subsidiary brand – to become an international advisory services provider project developer and project investor, natural capital asset management with its foundations built on leading expertise from the former companies. NatureBank will manage and support investments in natural assets to generate revenue from commodities ranging from cocoa to carbon or timber. Drawing on 20 years of experience in the sector, the NatureBank team has the ability to increase the productivity and sustainability of these critical ecosystems.

For more information, visit www.naturebank.com

About NatureBank

NatureBank specializes in advisory, technology and impact project investment services that create value and enhance sustainable commodities and ecological assets while managing climate change risk and maximizing long-term investment in nature. We provide our customers with a multidisciplinary approach to manage risk, enhance asset performance and secure commercial returns while improving livelihoods and sustainability. For more information, please visit www.naturebank.com.

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Media contacts:

Brian Cant, Tartan Group: 250-592-3838, 250-888-8729 (cell) or [email protected]

Natalie Farrell, Offsetters Climate Solutions: 778-887-6049 or [email protected]