21 February 2024, London: Ocean 14 Capital Ltd., adviser to the Ocean 14 Capital Fund 1 SCSp (“O14C” or the “Fund”), a private equity impact investment fund focused on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 14 (SDG 14): Life Below Water, announces today that it has received Certified B Corporation™ (“B Corp™”) certification, joining a growing group of companies reinventing business by pursuing purpose as well as profit and further recognising its commitment to sustainable and regenerative ocean investments.

Ocean 14 Capital has been certified by B Lab, the not-for-profit behind the B Corp™ movement, as having met rigorous social and environmental standards which represent its commitment to goals outside of shareholder profit.

The B Corp™ certification addresses the entirety of a business’ operations and covers five key impact areas of Governance, Workers, Community, Environment and Customers.

The certification process is rigorous, with applicants required to reach a benchmark score of more than 80 while providing evidence of socially and environmentally responsible practices relating to energy supplies, waste and water use, worker compensation, diversity and corporate transparency. The company has legally embedded their commitment to purpose beyond profit in their company articles.

Ocean 14 Capital is now part of a community of 7,000 businesses globally who have certified as B Corps™. The B Corp™ community in the UK, representing a broad cross section of industries and sizes, comprises over 1,500 companies and include well-known brands such as Patagonia, TOMS, Kickstarter, Fairfone, and ecosia.

Recent attention on the blue economy, which is estimated to be worth more than $1.5 trillion per annum globally, provides more than 30 million jobs and supplies a vital source of protein to more than three billion people, makes Ocean 14 Capital’s B Corp™ certification a notable step and signals a shift towards greater accountability and transparency in the sector.

“We are delighted to welcome Ocean 14 Capital to the B Corp™ community. This is a movement of companies who are committed to changing how business operates and believe business really can be a force for good. We know that Ocean 14 Capital is going to be a fantastic addition to the community and will continue driving the conversation forward,” says Chris Turner, Executive Director of B Lab UK.

“We are pleased to have B Corps™ of all shapes and sizes as part of our community – from startups to multinationals and across many different industries. Business is a powerful force and B Corp™ demonstrates that you can do good in any sector. Welcoming Ocean 14 Capital is an exciting moment because they have an opportunity to lead the way within the blue economy impact investing industry. We and the rest of the B Corp™ community are really pleased to support Ocean 14 Capital in paving the way for a new way of doing things,” adds B Lab’s Turner.

“We are delighted to be joining the B Corp™ community, as the first impact investment adviser focused solely on the blue economy. It is a great accreditation for doing the right thing as we strive to measure and be measured by the positive impact we will have,” says George Duffield, founding partner and Chair of Impact at Ocean 14 Capital.

“For the team at Ocean 14 Capital, sourcing investments in the blue economy is about more than making a profit from the ocean. It is about building a sustainable and regenerative ecosystem that supports livelihoods and ocean biodiversity, and enhances the ocean’s role in mitigating climate change,” continues Ocean 14 Capital’s Duffield.

Aion and Bureo, two of the Ocean 14 Capital fund’s initial investments, have been B Corp™ Certified since 2019 and 2015, respectively.

-ends-

About Ocean 14 Capital

Ocean 14 Capital Fund 1 SCSp (“O14C” or the “Fund”) is an impact fund targeting €200 million and focused on driving a sustainable and regenerative blue economy. The Fund’s investment adviser, Ocean 14 Capital Ltd, has a team who combine more than 65 years of investment, impact and industry experience. The investment adviser’s team and advisers are some of the world’s most renowned scientists and marine biologists, and it is considered that they have unparalleled access to proprietary deal flow and sector knowledge.

www.ocean14capital.com

About B Lab UK

B Lab UK is transforming the economy to benefit all people, communities, and the planet. A leader in economic systems change, our global network creates standards, policies, and tools for business, and we certify companies—known as B Corps—who are leading the way. To date, our global community includes over 7,000 B Corps™ in 90 countries and 161 industries, and over 150,000 companies manage their impact with the B Impact Assessment and the SDG Action Manager.

About Certified B Corporations® 

Certified B Corporations®, or B Corps™, are companies verified by B Lab to meet the high standards of social and environmental performance, transparency and accountability.

To learn more and join the movement, visit  www.bcorporation.uk

Important Notice

The fund mentioned within is only available to Professional Investors within the United Kingdom and Retail Investors may not rely on the information within. This is not an offer to sell, or an invitation for an offer to acquire, an interest in the Fund, nor is it an invitation to apply to participate in the Fund. This is not an offering or placement of interests in the Fund in any jurisdiction and should not be construed as such. No information in this document will form the basis of any contract. 

For further information, please contact:

Chris Gorell Barnes, Founding Partner, Ocean 14 Capital Ltd: +44 7802 738062