Maples Group Supporting Natural Ventures with Fund Administration Services

Natural Ventures has selected the Maples Group ("Maples") as its fund administrator for its Natural Ventures Fund I LP ("the Fund"), a fund with an impact-driven approach to investment and is focused on accelerating the transformation to a sustainable, healthy and economic supply of food and water. Natural invests in scalable, proven technologies with commercial traction that deliver a meaningful impact on water and food security.

The Maples Group will be providing comprehensive fund administration services for the Fund and was selected because of its reputation and unmatched capabilities, significant presence in the Middle East, and well-established track record with leading fund managers and institutions. 

The $100 million, 10-year closed Fund is backed by a consortium of investors that includes HELM AG, a German corporation operating in the agriculture, fuel / energy and chemical sectors, a UAE sovereign wealth fund and Chemovateq, a Swiss family office focused on agricultural and agricultural-related technologies that support the food value chain. The Fund's portfolio is targeted at global startups operating in the WaterTech and AgTech domains and is domiciled within the Abu Dhabi Global Market ("ADGM"), an international financial free zone within the emirate.

"We are privileged that Natural Ventures has selected the Maples Group as its fund administration partner for this groundbreaking fund," says Fred Tabbal, Regional Head of Fund Services - Middle East. "Impact investment is an asset management segment with global implications for the future and we are excited to be partnering with a fund looking to effect such positive change."

Amid global population growth and an increase in extreme weather, access to clean water is an issue that transcends borders. According to statistics from the UN, 2.4 billion people live in countries with stressed water supplies. Innovation in agriculture, which consumes 72 percent of global freshwater supplies, will help mitigate threats to global food and water security. The Fund's goals are aligned with achieving the UN's Sustainable Development Goals ("SDGs") and creating global sustainable impact.

Natural Ventures Managing Partner Mark Jenkins commented, "Maples immediately understood our requirements and have been incredibly responsive to both Natural and our investors. The Natural Ventures team looks forward to continuing to partner with Maples as we continue to build out the fund and our portfolio".

In addition to its strong reputation and deep experience across fund platforms and investors, the Maples Group is committed to providing fund managers with an industry-leading ESG service and product suite so their portfolios will meet investor mandates and regulatory targets, including a first-of-its-kind independent ESG certification.