February 16, 2017, Vancouver, British Columbia: NatureBank Asset Management Inc. (“NB” or the “Company”) (TSX-V: COO) is pleased to announce the signing of a Teaming Agreement (the “Agreement”) with Native American Partners Inc. (“NAP”), managers of the Native American Venture Fund (“NAVF”), to develop carbon offset projects for sale into regulated carbon markets both in North America and select international markets.
The Native American Venture Fund is an Impact Investment Fund that promotes economic development activities for indigenous tribes throughout North America, and is managed by Native American Partners, Incorporated. NAVF has established a series of socially responsible and impactful investment funds that will leverage the unique economic and legal advantages provided by the United States government to federally recognized Native American Tribes. Within its Economic and Climate Change Fund, NAVF has the stated goal of allocating up to USD $100 million in capital to develop tribal economies in sectors such as renewable energy, carbon-capture/sequestration and climate change project development.
Under the terms of the Agreement, NAP has engaged NatureBank to exclusively provide a suite of forest carbon project development services in order to establish and commercialize carbon sequestration projects with Tribal landowners associated with NAP through the NAVF.
“Having established several of the world’s largest forest carbon sequestration projects, many of those with First Nations and Native American Tribal landowners, NatureBank is the perfect partner for us, given their long and successful track record in working with tribal communities on carbon project origination, development and commercialization,” commented John Cataldi, Managing Director of the Native American Venture Fund. “Our partnership with Naturebank not only supports the environmental fight against climate change, but will generate substantial long-term revenues for dozens of indigenous tribes, while providing significant returns for NAVF’s investor base.”
NAVF has committed to promoting and marketing potential carbon project opportunities to their network of landowners, as well as acting as intermediaries and project liaisons between participating groups. NAVF will assist in providing certain development services offered by NatureBank in addition to securing offset purchase contracts with qualified buyers. NAVF will also commit to financing development service costs and certain supplemental costs associated with the development, registration, and sale of verified carbon offsets.
While the focus of this Agreement is primarily on regulated carbon markets, such as that found under California’s AB-32 legislation (which established a state wide cap and trade system), it allows both parties to proactively address carbon project opportunities as additional carbon markets develop within North America and in international markets.
“We are very pleased to partner with Native American Partners and the Native American Venture Fund to help Tribal communities participate in a growing carbon economy,” stated Dr. James Tansey, CIO of NatureBank Asset Management Inc. “NatureBank has a long and proud history of working with First Nations and Native American Tribes on forest based projects that deliver environmental, social and economic benefit to their communities. We very much look forward to sharing such benefits with many of the leading Native American Tribes who partner with the NAVF team.”
James Tansey, Ph.D.
Chief Investment Officer Americas
NatureBank Asset Management Inc.
About Native American Venture Fund
The Native American Ventures Fund is a socially responsible, impact investment fund that rewards investors with compelling financial returns while creating social good in providing Native American communities with job creation, infrastructure, housing, education and an overall sustainable economy. Using unique economic and legal advantages afforded to federally and state recognized Native American Indian Tribes by the US Government, the NAVF creates a solid foundation for Tribal Enterprises to succeed by providing capital, leadership and vision to create highly scalable and sustainable tribal economies. For more information on the NAVF, please visit:www.NativeAmericanventureFund.com
About NatureBank Asset Management Inc.
NatureBank is an internationally diversified carbon management and agroforestry solutions company. With offices in Vancouver, British Columbia and Portland Oregon, Bonn Germany, Geneva Switzerland and satellite offices in Panama, its team of industry leaders specialize in the origination, development and commercialization of high-quality agroforestry and carbon offset projects, in addition to offering a comprehensive suite of sustainability consultancy services. Through NatureBank advisory services group Offsetters and German based CO2OL, the company helps organizations understand, reduce and offset their climate impact. NatureBank has worked with over 200 leading business organizations including Aimia, Vancity, lululemon athletica, Catalyst Paper, Harbour Air, HSE – Entega, Shell Canada Limited, and a suite of leading First Nations, Native American Tribes and TIMOs on sustainable projects. NatureBank is publicly listed company on the Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX-V:COO) and in Frankfurt:9EA. For more information, please visit us at www.NatureBank.com.
For further information, please contact:
David Rokoss
NatureBank Asset Management Inc.
Suite 1000 – 675 West Hastings Street,
Vancouver BC, V6B 1M8
Telephone: 778-945-0951
Email: david.rokoss@NatureBank.com
John Cataldi
Native American Venture Fund, Inc.
30 Wall Street, 8th Floor
New York, NY 10005
Telephone: 212-634-4300
Email: John@NativeAmericanVentureFund.com
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS AND RISKS:
Certain of the statements and information in this news release may constitute “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian provincial securities laws. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, are forward-looking statements. When used in this news release the words “anticipate”, “believes”, “estimates”, “expects”, “intends”, “may”, “project”, “plan”, “should” , “forecast”, “outlook”, “budget”, “anticipated”, “future”, “potential” and similar words and expressions may identify forward-looking statements or information.
The statements in this news release reflect the Company’s current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and contingencies. Many factors, known and unknown, could cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from results, performance or achievements anticipated by management. The Company’s ability to continue as a going concern is dependent upon its ability to maintain profitable operations and/or obtain the necessary financing to repay liabilities and obligations arising from normal business operations and to meet contractual liabilities related to the acquisition of Offsetters and CCC when they come due. The Company has been profitable in the past but has not achieved sustained, long term profitable operations and may require additional working capital and may seek additional financing through equity or debt and/or increased sales revenue and cash flows in order to remain a going concern. There is material uncertainty related to the Company’s ability to secure necessary financing or generate additional sales revenue and cash flows in the amounts required. The Company could be adversely affected by risks and uncertainties as disclosed in the Company’s most recent MD&A filing and financial statements as filed at www.sedar.com.
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