We have advised Crédit Agricole on the acquisition of a majority stake in EcoTree, a French B Corp-certified specialist in nature-based solutions dedicated to the restoration and sustainable management of forests and ecosystems.
Based in Brest, EcoTree brings together individuals and corporates around concrete nature projects, combining sustainable forest management with water, carbon and biodiversity contributions. The company enables individuals to own trees in sustainably managed forests and supports corporates in their climate and biodiversity commitments, notably through French forest carbon credits. EcoTree operates in five countries and serves more than 148,000 individuals and 4,000 companies, with over 1.7 million trees planted and managed, and more than 100 biodiversity projects.
The transaction is part of the launch of Crédit Agricole Capital Naturel, the Group's new business line dedicated to the preservation, regeneration and enhancement of natural capital, which brings together the expertise of Amundi, Crédit Agricole CIB, LCL and Crédit Agricole Assurances.
With Crédit Agricole's support, EcoTree is expected to accelerate its commercial development by drawing on the Group's client base across large corporates, SMEs, institutional investors and local authorities. It also aims to pursue its expansion in Europe and to broaden its offering in carbon, biodiversity and natural assets.
EcoTree will continue to rely on its management team and forestry expertise, while benefiting from the backing of a major European banking group to pursue its mission.
