news - 60 Investors Commit to Manage $250 Billion in Assets in Line with New Impact Principles

NEWS

60 Investors Commit to Manage $250 Billion in Assets in Line with New Impact Principles

April 12, 2019

Washington, D.C., April 12, 2019 – A front of European development banks, including FMO, are amongst the 60 investors to adopt the Operating Principles for Impact Management—a market standard for impact investing in which investors seek to generate positive impact for society alongside financial returns in a disciplined and transparent way. The Principles bring greater transparency, credibility, and discipline to the impact investing market. European development banks signing these principles are united in EDFI, the Association of bilateral European Development Finance Institutions.

The organizations adopting the Principles today collectively hold at least $250 billion in assets invested for impact, which they commit to manage in accordance with the Principles. EDFI’s share hereof is substantial. The Principles provide a common market standard for what constitutes an impact investment, addressing concerns about “impact-washing.” IFC, a member of the World Bank Group, led the development of the Principles, in collaboration with leading asset managers, asset owners, asset allocators, development banks, and financial institutions, following a three-month public stakeholder consultation.

Peter van Mierlo, FMO’s Chief Executive Officer: “We’re very pleased with this next step towards harmonizing our impact measurement standards. Without a taxonomy, without universally agreed upon definitions, we will not be able to measure the progress we’re making on fighting climate change and reducing inequalities. We are proud to be part of a big group of European DFI’s who support this strongly and unite with IFC and impact investors in order to make progress on this front”

Impact investing needs to offer investors a transparent basis on which they can invest their money to achieve positive measurable outcomes for society in addition to adequate financial returns. The Principles launched today facilitate this process by creating clarity and consistency regarding what constitutes managing investments for impact, thereby bolstering confidence in the market.

The Principles reflect best practices across a range of public and private institutions. They integrate impact considerations into all phases of the investment lifecycle: strategy, origination and structuring, portfolio management, exit, and independent verification. Critically, they call for annual disclosure as to how signatories implement the principles, including independent verification, which will provide credibility to the adoption of the Principles.

Download here the booklet Global launch - Operating Principles for Impact Management (pdf)

First Adopters of the Operating Principles for Impact Management

  1. IFC
  2. Actis
  3. Acumen Capital Partners
  4. AlphaMundi Group
  5. Amundi
  6. AXA Investment Managers
  7. Baiterek National Managing Holding JSC
  8. Belgian Investment Company for Developing Countries (BIO)
  9. Blue like an Orange Sustainable Capital
  10. BlueOrchard Finance Ltd.
  11. BNP Paribas Asset Management
  12. Calvert Impact Capital
  13. Capria Ventures
  14. Cardano Development B.V. (ILX fund and TCX)
  15. CDC Group plc.
  16. CDP – Cassa Depositi e Prestiti
  17. COFIDES
  18. Community Investment Management (CIM)
  19. Cordiant Capital
  20. Credit Suisse
  21. DEG – Deutsche Entwicklungs- und Investitionsgesellschaft mbH
  22. Development Bank of Latin America (CAF)
  23. European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)
  24. European Development Finance Institutions (EDFI)
  25. European Investment Bank  (EIB)
  26. FinDev Canada
  27. Finnfund
  28. Flat World Partners
  29. FMO – the Netherlands Development Finance Company
  30. IDB Invest (Member of the Inter-American Development Bank)
  31. IFC Asset Management Company (AMC)
  32. IFU – Investment Fund for Developing Countries
  33. Incofin Investment Management
  34. Investisseurs & Partenaires – I&P
  35. Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector, Member of IsDB Group
  36. Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. L.P.
  37. LeapFrog Investments
  38. LGT Impact
  39. LGT Venture Philanthropy
  40. MicroVest Capital Management
  41. Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA)
  42. Norfund
  43. Nuveen
  44. Obviam
  45. Oesterreichische Entwicklungsbank AG (OeEB)
  46. Overseas Private Investment Corporation (OPIC)
  47. Partners Group
  48. Phatisa
  49. Proparco
  50. Prudential Financial Inc.
  51. responsAbility
  52. STOA Infra & Energy
  53. Swedfund
  54. Swiss Infestment Fund for Emerging Markets (SIFEM)
  55. The Rise Fund
  56. The Rock Creek Group
  57. UBS
  58. Water.org
  59. WaterEquity
  60. Zurich Insurance Group Ltd.

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