Longevity Partners launches climate due diligence service

By Laura Miller

Longevity Partners, which specialises in managing climate risk within the property sector, has launched a service to help clients see if their transactions are sustainable.

The Longevity Transaction Service expands on the current due diligence the firm offers, to assist clients to optimise their transactions, mitigate risk and support decision making to encourage positive climate action. 

It will include technical due diligence and climate risk quantification for each transaction, whether it is in respect of a building, a portfolio, or a company. 

The service creates a new division that is part of the group’s diversification strategy, to accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy.

It will be managed by Laure Ferrand from the firm’s Paris office. 

Ferrand, who was already associate director at the firm, brings many years of experience in energy efficiency, sustainable building engineering and corporate social responsibility (CSR) due diligence.

She will oversee experts in transactional risk and support investment teams’ cross-functionally.

The aim is to help clients optimise their transactions for climate concerns, and in the future, offer CSR advisory services for acquisitions and corporate restructuring. 

Bernard d’Arche will take over the helm of the French office and has been appointed managing director. 

He will be responsible for leading the next stages of development of the company, which has doubled its turnover and tripled its workforce over the past 12 months.

d’Arche said: “To face the climate emergency, we have to adapt in a very fast and innovative way; the strong growth of Longevity Partners testifies to a deep desire of the market players to contribute to the preservation of the environment. 

“Our ambition is to continue to offer our French clients tailor-made strategies, by accompanying them further in achieving their ESG ambitions.”

Ferrand added: “I am delighted to take on a new challenge with the Transaction Department. Over the years, we have built up strong skills in understanding the risks and opportunities associated with real estate transactions. Our team is global, but with a strong national knowledge, and is trained to deliver actions with high environmental value.”