Australia’s leading integrated plantation forestry and wood fibre company, Midway, has launched a new natural capital investment management platform, 1971 Capital, to support institutional investment in large-scale plantation and carbon projects.
Leveraging over three decades of operational experience from Midway, the new subsidiary will specialise in providing investors with access to attractive natural capital investment opportunities, covering carbon, land and timber assets. It offers end-to-end solutions for institutional investors, corporates and landowners across global markets.
1971 Capital acts as both a fund and asset manager, overseeing the investment process for institutional investors while managing plantation and carbon projects on the ground to deliver nature-based decarbonisation at scale.
Overseen by Midway Chief Executive Officer Tony McKenna, 1971 Capital will strengthen the group’s capacity to support large emitters with access to a pipeline of investable projects.
Midway currently manages more than 52,000 hectares of plantations across Tasmania, Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory, with existing projects expected to generate millions of Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs) over the investment life span.
The establishment of 1971 Capital enables Midway to further concentrate on its core wood fibre processing and export operations, which span five port locations nationally.
“1971 Capital brings together more than 30 years of plantation expertise, specialist carbon capability and capital market knowledge to design and manage projects that deliver measurable environmental outcomes, high-quality ACCUs and strong commercial returns,” Mr McKenna said.
“This structure allows us to support the expansion of our existing portfolio while attracting fresh capital into new projects, underpinned by the leadership of some of Australia’s most experienced forest and carbon managers.”
1971 Capital draws its name from 1971, the year widely recognised as the first Earth Overshoot Day, when global consumption of natural resources exceeded the planet’s capacity to regenerate them.
Mr McKenna said the business strategy focuses on generating attractive returns from assets that help restore balance between consumption and regeneration. He explained that this approach underpins decarbonisation and sustainable fibre production goals, whilst also driving regional economic development and contributing to broader social prosperity, creating long-term value for investors.
Building on the success of investment partnerships with Rio Tinto in North Queensland and MEAG in south west Victoria, 1971 Capital is already connecting new strategic and financial partners with nature-based investment opportunities.
1971 Capital’s General Manager Plantations and Carbon, Hamish Little said: “1971 Capital provides opportunities for investors to access high-quality natural capital assets, from plantation establishment through to carbon credit generation, long-term timber production and harvest”.
“This new structure enables us to scale plantation and carbon projects by combining generational operational capability with capital market expertise, creating a secure platform for investors to contribute to sustainable plantation development.”
To learn more about 1971 Capital please visit www.1971capital.com.au
