There is enough evidence today to say that the COVID-19 pandemic has both raised awareness and appetite for impact investments. Whether a clear causality exists or just spurious correlation is not entirely clear, but who cares? As long as capital is flowing, the party will continue.
Certainly, the festivities aren’t nearly big enough yet to meet the needs of the planet and its inhabitants. The momentum, however, is encouraging. Whereas concepts such as additionality, intentionality and the theory of change still puzzled most neophytes only a couple of years ago, many institutional investors have now integrated these terms into their own frameworks. Even the deployment targets, which were often conservatively downplayed by asset owners who blamed the lack of investable companies and funds, are now reasonably ambitious.
Are we ready to take this party to the next level? In this edition, we have assembled insights from no less than 10 experts. Asset managers span from fixed income, with green bond investments and microfinance to direct impact investments both in private and in public markets. We also have a chance to understand how asset owners take decisions in this asset class, from a Swedish pension giant to a Finnish development finance institute and a Danish foundation. And, of course, no party would be complete without a contribution from the GIIN, which have been driving the penetration of impact impact investing and today, confirms the positive momentum of the asset class, on its way to becoming truly part of mainstream investments.
Tired of flipping the book? Access individual articles or download the pdf here!
1. the editor’s word: There’s a Party and you’re Invited!
2. Impact Beyond the Obvious, an interview of Hari Balkrishna, T.Rowe Price
3. Holistic and Intentional Impact Investing, an interview of Seb Beloe, WHEB
4. Impact Investing – What Makes it Different? by Sarah Norris & Dominic Byrne, abrdn
5. Bond Impact – Filling the Funding Gap, an interview of Douglas Farquhar, NN Investment Partners
6. Microfinance – From Covid-Relief to Fintech Opportunities, a NordSIP event summary with BlueOrchard, Nordea Life & Pension and Triodos Investment Management
7. Venture Impact – the Nordic Way, an interview of Jonas Skattum Svegaarden, Katapult Ocean
8. Danish Inspiration – Investing for Impact, an interview of Anders Kristoffersen, the Velux Foundation
9. Scaling Impact – Opening Opportunities for Institutional Investors, an interview of Markus Pietikäinen, Finnfund
10. Are Impact Investments at an Inflection Point?, an interview of Peter Lööw, Alecta
11. Mainstreaming Impact Investments, an interview of Amit Bouri, the GIIN
Tired of flipping the book? Access individual articles or download the pdf here!
