This new step is a recognition of a strong and long-standing commitment to social and environmental responsibility. A further illustration of the firm’s determination to achieve positive impact and social responsibility, as well as its ability to innovate.

By becoming a Benefit Corporation, Meridiam confirms its commitment to concrete sustainable development objectives and a rigorous and genuine evaluation of the impact of its investments. A specific committee including independent members and staff representatives has been set up for this purpose.

For Thierry Déau, Meridiam’s founding CEO: “Becoming a Benefit Corporation was an obvious step for us. We have placed impact investment at the heart of all our actions since our inception. This change is a natural extension of our commitment to social, environmental and societal responsibility in general, but also our conviction that the company must engage productively in the critical global issues of our time, particularly climate change and ecological transformation.”

The status of “société à mission“, or mission-driven company, allows companies to include social and environmental objectives in their corporate goals. The adoption of this new status has been made possible by the promulgation of the “Pacte Act” by the President of the French Republic, Emmanuel Macron, on May 23, 2019.

This purpose aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and in particular:

• Contribute to building a resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization that benefits all and foster innovation (SDG 9)
• Contribute to ensuring access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all (SDG 7)
• Contribute to urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts (SDG 13).