By Geoffrey on August 15, 2019
On August 15, 2019 The Asset reported that “(g)lobal asset management firm Schroders has recently acquired a majority stake in Zurich-based impact investor BlueOrchard.
Established in 2001, BlueOrchard is a major impact investment manager
that focuses on inclusive and climate-smart growth, while providing attractive
returns for investors.
To date, the firm has deployed in excess of US$6 billion across 80
emerging and frontier markets, facilitating social and environmental impact.
Its funds address 13 of the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
BlueOrchard has had a presence in Asia for almost two decades and
manages amongst others, two funds, the Microfinance Initiative for Asia (MIFA)
and the Japan ASEAN Women Empowerment Fund (JAWEF), which address exclusively
sustainable growth in the Asia-Pacific.
The Asset recently spoke with Pierrick Balmain,
head of Asia-Pacific business development at the investment firm, to understand
what the deal will mean for the firm’s Asian operations.”
You may read the article/interview on The Asset ESG Forum internet site.
Posted in 2019, Asia, Finance, Impact Investing, Microfinance, Sustainability
By Geoffrey on August 13, 2019
On August 13, 2019 Investment
Europe reported that the “Warsaw Stock Exchange (GPW) is planning to launch
a new ESG index by 3 September, reflecting what it says is growing demand for a
solution that can identify relevant stocks in its existing WIG20 and WIG40 blue
chip indices.
The WIG-ESG will adjust
constituents according to ESG ratings and an assessment of compliance with
principles set out in the Best Practice for GPW Listed Companies 2016 document. Sustainalytics
will provide the ESG Risk Ratings.
Izabela Olszewska, member of the
GPW Management Board, said: ‘In view of the dynamically growing market for
responsible investing, we have decided to launch a new index, WIG-ESG.’
Robert Bohynik, NN Investment
Partners TFI Board member and investment director, said: ‘NN Investment
Partners TFI integrated ESG aspects (environment, society, governance) in our
investment process as early as 2016. We now include ESG criteria in the
management of all funds we offer. To launch a Polish passive fund tracking an
exchange index comprising companies which follow high standards of corporate
governance, mitigate their environmental impact and are socially responsible, we
first had to develop such an index. We considered several partners, including
foreign entities, and selected the Warsaw Stock Exchange, which is a competent
and flexible partner.’”
You may read the article on the Investment Europe internet site.
Posted in 2019, Capital Markets, Corporate Governance, Europe