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FIXED (AUTHORITIES)- Eurazeo eyes 750 mln euros for brand-new planetary borders fund

French private equity financier Eurazeo plans to raise a minimum of 750 million euros ($ 813.08 million) for an impactfocused buyout fund targeting companies helping the world run within its ecological limits, an executive told .

The Eurazeo Planetary Boundaries Fund is based upon the scientific concept of 'planetary limits', which define thresholds on everything from pollution to biodiversity loss within which the world must remain to be habitable.

Utilizing the scientific criteria as a guide, the fund will invest in little and mid-market business concentrated on the regenerative and circular economy or which are helping the world transition and adjust to a climate-friendly future.

Primarily investing in companies based in Europe, the fund will focus on sectors including agriculture, waste and low-carbon energy, and 20% of the fund's brought interest - the share of earnings paid to the fund supervisor - would be connected to attaining portfolio level effect.

The fund's launch comes as business and the more comprehensive economy in Europe begin the relocate to a more circular economy, where less products are utilized and more are reused or recycled.

That shift, part of the European Union's efforts to fulfill its environment goals, is now starting to come through in the form of tighter rules around water usage, fabrics, plastics and product packaging, Handling Partner Sophie Flak stated.

Companies and the economy are finally all set for it, Flak said. We are seeing some little and mid-size business which have products, services or innovation which are dealing with the planetary limits.

They require money and know-how to scale and become champs, she added, citing the example of a firm that has developed innovation to line pipes and lower leakage.

The fund will likewise be supported by an advisory board of sustainability professionals consisting of the former head of the European Environment Company, Hans Bruyninckx; and Catherine McKenna, Canada's previous minister of environment and climate change.

Others on the board include Club of Rome Co-President Sandrine Dixson-Decleve, L'Oreal's former sustainable development director Lauren Gilbert, and IKEA's previous head of sustainability Pia Heidenmark Cook.

The board would encourage on the fund approach and effect of prospective financial investments against each of the 9 planetary boundaries, along with assistance draw in financiers to the fund, Flak stated. Impact and monetary performance would be assessed annual.

After investing, the fund would spend 12-18 months analysing each before concurring a binding progress strategy with management, Flak stated.

(source: Reuters)