Stockholm (NordSIP) – During New York Climate Week 2025, the Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) placed a spotlight on asset managers leading the way in sustainable finance. Its annual PRI Awards, evaluated by a panel of more than 30 independent experts, recognise pioneering initiatives across climate, nature, and social dimensions. Among this year’s honourees were SAIL Investments, The People’s Pension (People’s Partnership), MSCI, the World Benchmarking Alliance’s Collective Impact Coalition on Ethical AI, BNP Paribas Asset Management, daphni (recipient of the Private Markets Special Award), and the Church Commissioners for England (Asset Owner Special Award). In the category of Innovation in Responsible Investment Strategy, Summa Equity was singled out for its robust approach to embedding impact into private equity.
Founded on the belief that the world’s uncertainties should be considered opportunities, thematic private investment manager Summa has developed a distinctive impact-driven investment approach. As the PRI announcement noted, the firm goes beyond traditional ESG integration, embedding theories of change at the heart of its process. By mapping how specific products and services contribute to a resilient future within planetary boundaries, and combining scientific insights with financial expertise, Summa identifies industries and companies best positioned to generate both returns and measurable positive outcomes. Its methodology relies on innovative impact valuation techniques, developed in partnership with Harvard Business School and refined with Valuing Impact, that quantify positive and negative externalities across the value chain.
Reflecting on the award, Emelie Norling, who accepted the prize in New York, explained how this analytical framework sets Summa apart. “Our route of analysis is built on the conviction that solving global challenges is not just compatible with strong returns, it’s the foundation for them,” she said. By integrating impact into every stage of the investment process and grounding it in rigorous theories of change, Summa can link value creation directly to impact. “We also go beyond traditional ESG reporting by quantifying externalities in a single currency and identifying company-specific impact KPIs that make sense both commercially and in relation to the theory of change,” she added. This holistic methodology, praised by the PRI judges, illustrates how impact can serve as a driver of financial as well as societal performance.
Asked about the value of receiving a PRI Award, Norling stressed that the recognition extends beyond the firm itself. “Winning the PRI Award for Innovation in Responsible Investment Strategy is a meaningful recognition of the work we’ve done to push the boundaries of impact integration in private equity,” she said. For Summa, the validation lies in showing that intentional, measurable impact can (and should) be a core component of value creation. She also pointed to PRI’s role in shaping the broader landscape: “PRI provides a credible, global voice that helps investors stay focused on materiality, transparency, and long-term resilience. It enables the community to move beyond politicised narratives and toward strategies that are grounded in evidence and aligned with solving real-world challenges. That kind of leadership is essential if we want capital to be part of the solution.”
For Summa Equity, the PRI Award represents more than recognition. It is a signal to the wider private equity industry that rigorous, intentional impact integration is not only possible but commercially advantageous. As global investors increasingly search for credible approaches that align capital with planetary boundaries, Summa’s model demonstrates how private equity can serve as a powerful lever for transformation, linking measurable impact with sustainable value creation.
