Mizuho Financial Group and Lombard Odier Trust (Japan), the Japanese entity of Swiss group Lombard Odier, have signed a new memorandum of understanding (MOU) covering sustainability, expanding its areas of cooperation beyond the existing Strategic Alliance Agreement for private banking.
With this new alliance, Mizuho will expand its areas of cooperation with Lombard Odier in sustainability, and gain access to Lombard Odier’s comprehensive range of sustainability strategies with tailored solutions for clients. In addition, the sustainability alliance will help to refine Mizuho’s sustainable investment offerings in alignment with international standards, and to position Mizuho as a forerunner in sustainable finance practices.
As part of the new sustainability alliance, Lombard Odier, a global wealth and asset manager with a strong focus on sustainability investing, will act as strategic advisor and consulting partner to Mizuho. The Swiss firm will bring its global sustainability expertise to the Japanese market, with the aim of establishing systems in sustainability, and enhancing sustainability solutions for high-net-worth clients in Japan.
In return, Lombard Odier will tap into Mizuho’s strong network and knowledge to gather insights on sustainability within the Japanese market, jointly develop sustainability-related investment strategies, and expand its presence in the market.
“We are delighted to partner with Lombard Odier to advance sustainability initiatives in Japan’s financial sector,” said Atsuhiro Morishima, Deputy Head of Retail & Business Banking Company at Mizuho Financial Group. “By leveraging Lombard Odier’s extensive capabilities and expertise in sustainability research, we are confident in our ability to deliver innovative solutions that meet the evolving needs of our clients, underscoring our commitment to driving positive environmental impact through sustainable financial practices.”
Jean-Pascal Porcherot, Managing Partner at Lombard Odier, added: “At Lombard Odier, we believe that system changes resulting from the transition to a more sustainable economy will result in profound changes in business models, value chains and profit pools. As a high-end investment firm, we have strong sustainability research and investment expertise to help identify the opportunities and risks that are emerging from this transition.”
