Private equity firm Eurazeo has taken home two awards at this year's Environmental Finance Sustainable Investment Awards for a duo of impact funds.
Judges recognised the importance of investing in maritime via Eurazeo's €209 million ($242 million) Sustainable Maritime Infrastructure Fund, winning it Environmental fund of the year, Europe.
Investing capital from sovereign and institutional investors, Eurazeo states the fund is the first green leasing fund supported by the European Investment Fund's Private Credit Tailored for SMEs, which committed €70 million.
The debt vehicle invests in sustainable technologies supporting offshore renewable energy, such as installation and maintenance, marine transportation, including vessels powered by alternative fuels, and sustainable equipment.
Through each investment, the holding period aims to either reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 20%, monitor avoided emissions, or align the company's economic activities with the EU Taxonomy.
Its KPIs and fund progress are third-party verified. In 2024, Eurazeo reports that the fund achieved a 42% average reduction of direct CO2 emissions, above its 20% target.
In 2024, the fund completed five transactions, plus two in early 2025.
Eurazeo has also won ESG investment initiative of the year in Europe for its Planetary Boundaries fund, of which judges celebrated its innovative framework.
The impact buyout fund embeds the Planetary Boundaries framework, developed by the Stockholm Resilience Centre, into its private equity investing. It backs regenerative models of nature capital and ecosystems, investing in small to mid-market European companies which prevent, reverse, or adapt to the overstepping of the Planetary Boundaries.
Investment opportunities are in environmental solutions across sectors such as agriculture and food value chains, waste and water management, and low-carbon energy, among others.
Following its launch in May 2024, it held a first close at €300 million this March, having secured capital from financial institutions, insurance companies, asset managers, and family offices. It continues to fundraise to its €750 million target.
