Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Acquires Majority Stake in Environmental Markets Platform GreenCollar
Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP), one of Canada’s largest investors, announced today that it has acquired KKR’s stake, and other investors’ holdings, in Australian environmental markets platform GreenCollar.
Following an initial investment in the platform in 2022, OTPP now holds a significant majority stake in GreenCollar.
Founded in 2011, New South Wales-based GreenCollar is Australia’s largest environmental markets investor and project developer. The company helps farmers and land managers to create commercial opportunities through nature-based projects that generate environmental credits, while also providing environmental, social and economic benefits. The company’s services encompass carbon projects that mitigate climate impact while also addressing issues including biodiversity and soil rehabilitation, Reef Credits from improving water quality resulting from land stewardship to help preserve the Great Barrier Reef, nature positive biodiversity projects for land stewardship and carbon farming, and a plastic credit scheme that focuses on removing and recycling plastic from the environment.
James Schultz, CEO and Co-Founder of GreenCollar, said:
“We look forward to our deepening relationship and collaboration with Ontario Teachers’ and tapping into their knowledge and expertise in the natural resources sector.”
Christopher Metrakos, Senior Managing Director, Natural Resources at Ontario Teachers’, added:
“We are pleased to increase our investment in GreenCollar and to continue supporting James and his team in their mission to restore and enhance natural capital in areas like biodiversity and water quality. GreenCollar is a proven leader in delivering positive environmental outcomes with market-based solutions and we are excited to continue supporting the company in its next chapter of growth in Australia and beyond.”
KKR invested in GreenCollar in 2020, as part of the firm’s Global Impact strategy, and marking the Global Impact Fund’s first investment in Australia, and third in Asia Pacific.
George Aitken, Managing Director and Head of KKR Global Impact, Asia Pacific, said:
“GreenCollar is a great example of a solutions-oriented business that KKR looks to support through our Global Impact strategy, addressing some of the world’s biggest challenges such as climate change. Together with James, Ontario Teachers’ and the whole team at GreenCollar, we have made great strides in advancing GreenCollar’s important mission. It’s been a fantastic journey.”