VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - October 20, 2015) - Offsetters Climate Solutions Inc. (the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: COO) (FRANKFURT: 9EA) is excited to announce that as of market open today, Tuesday October 20, 2015, the Company will become NatureBank Asset Management Inc. ("NatureBank"). NatureBank will continue to trade under the current ticker symbol "COO" on the Toronto Venture Exchange.
NatureBank is at the intersection of finance and natural assets, producing long term, sustainable returns.
"The launch of NatureBank represents the beginning of a new era for our company, allowing us to build on our work that is based on the shared ethos of sustainable investment and environmental preservation and enhancement," said James Tansey, CEO of NatureBank. "When we chose the name NatureBank, we recognized that consumers and companies are driving increased demand for a wide range of sustainable commodities that are tied to the preservation of global forestry resources. NatureBank captures both the concept of saving the most critical natural capital assets as well as the opportunity to meet rapidly growing market demand for sustainable commodities. The sustainable commodities sector is currently worth $31 billion and is growing by 41% annually, so by investing in nature we are also investing in capital growth opportunities."
In July 2015, Offsetters Climate Solutions Inc., a leading carbon project developer, advisor and technology developer, acquired the issued and outstanding shares of Forest Finest Consulting GmbH, a leading German-based sustainable agro-forestry company, and CO2OL Natural Carbon Collection, a German-based voluntary carbon project developer and retailer, to create an international firm focused on carbon offset development and sustainable agricultural commodities. The Forest Finest team has successfully developed a EUR23 million portfolio of agro-forestry assets for German retail investors over the last two decades, with a primary focus on sustainable timber and high quality sustainable cocoa. CO2OL has developed, marketed and sold a number of highly charismatic voluntary carbon projects from Latin America including projects which have been layered on existing sustainable agro-forestry programs.
Under NatureBank, the consulting teams currently operating as Era Ecosystem Services based in North America, and Forest Finest Consulting GmbH based in Germany, will merge under the NatureBank banner. The two voluntary carbon brands of Offsetters and CO2OL will continue to operate under NatureBank, with the Offsetters brand continuing to serve their North American voluntary carbon clients, and the CO2OL brand serving their European voluntary carbon clients.
NatureBank will provide clients a suite of international advisory, technology, and impact investment services for carbon management and natural capital sectors such as cocoa and agro-forestry. The Company believes there are significant growth opportunities in the development of a portfolio of investable sustainable agroforestry projects, and will look to present a selection of investable portfolios to investors in North America and Europe over the coming year.
"NatureBank builds upon our many successes in Europe," commented Dirk Walterspacher, CEO of NatureBank in Germany. "For the last twenty years we have been investing in nature, creating consistent dividends for our investors from ecosystem conservation, improved agricultural output, and positive social and economic impacts for local people. The NatureBank brand reflects our focus on creating value through the financing and management of sustainable commodities, maximizing long term investment values from nature while managing climate change risk."
NatureBank now has operating offices in Vancouver British Columbia, Portland Oregon, Zurich Switzerland and Bonn Germany with satellite offices in Panama and Vietnam. For more information about NatureBank, please visit www.NatureBank.com.
James Tansey, Ph.D.
President and CEO
NatureBank Asset Management Inc.
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 and satellite offices in Panama and Vietnam, 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, and Shell Canada Limited. NatureBank is publicly listed company on the Toronto Venture Exchange (TSX VENTURE: COO) and in Frankfurt:9EA. For more information, please visit us at www.NatureBank.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.
The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affecting such statements or information other than as required by applicable securities or other laws.
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