Integrated to the Coverage & Investment Banking division, the team meets our clients’ growing need for financial assistance for projects that aim at both financial profitability and social or environmental impact. This impact can be translated into poverty reduction, job creation in disadvantaged areas or reducing the environmental impact footprint, etc. The terms “impact investment” and “double bottom-line investment” are sometimes used.
To this end, the team has two tasks: assisting the Bank’s major clients in arranging these transactions and helping the business lines acting in this field. The team thus facilitates the structuration and development of this investment sector while servicing the Bank’s clients.

 

Besides, the team calls on the capabilities of all of the Bank’s business lines and work closely with Crédit Agricole group entities. Thanks to this synergy, the team is a center of expertise within the investment bank for any transaction with strong social or environmental dimension.

We act as the exclusive advisor to the LivelihoodsThe purpose of this fund is to improve the living conditions of rural populations in poor countries thanks to carbon financing. For example, one of the fund's projects involves financing the planting of fruit trees in rural African communities and the development of agro forestry. This makes it possible for the populations concerned to increase their income from food and also to stock carbon. The investors are compensated with carbon credits. The first contract will involve Danone, Crédit Agricole S.A., Schneider Electric and CDC Climat. The Sustainable Banking team has assisted with this project from the start and we are in discussions with many companies and institutional investors planning to join the fund. fund. The purpose of this fund is to improve the living conditions of rural populations in poor countries thanks to carbon financing. For example, one of the fund’s projects involves financing the planting of fruit trees in rural African communities and the development of agro forestry. This makes it possible for the populations concerned to increase their income from food and also to stock carbon. The investors are compensated with carbon credits. The first contract will involve Danone, Crédit Agricole S.A., Schneider Electric and CDC Climat. Our team has assisted with this project from the start and we are in discussions with many companies and institutional investors planning to join the fund.

We are currently working on several projects aimed at reducing poverty through viable economic approaches.

Besides, within the framework of the G20 presided by France, the Sustainable Banking team was the advisor to the Agence Française de Développement for the structuring of hedging solutions for agricultural prices in developing countries. It also coordinated the definition of the recommendations of the Paris market in terms of regulating commodity markets. The purpose of this effort is to reduce the volatility of agricultural prices that have a significant impact on food security.

Even if Anglo-Saxon banks are very active in this area, Crédit Agricole CIB is becoming an important player. Moreover, this success shows the essential role of environmental and social challenges within the business lines of the Crédit Agricole group’s investment bank, which is always at the service of its clients.