All Impact Investing articles
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White papersPower in Transition: Charting a path to a sustainable energy future through private equity investments
Power demand is accelerating from data center growth, electrification and population increases, while supply becomes more volatile and unpredictable due to extreme weather and variable renewable generation. The widening gap between demand and supply is driving more frequent outages and higher power prices, pressuring household and business budgets while threatening essential services. Bridging this gap requires significant investment on both supply and demand sides, creating opportunities to build a more resilient, affordable and sustainable energy system.
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White papersBlended Finance: scaling capital for sustainable impact
With development financing needs outpacing available resources, attracting private capital into social and environmental projects in risky markets (e.g., emerging markets) is vital. We believe that Blended Finance (BF) offers a strategic solution. Specifically, this investment approach involves the public sector leveraging private money to finance projects focused on achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs) and addressing climate change.
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White papersThe reality of risk: Unearthed opportunity in growth equity impact
Growth equity impact supports enterprises poised to solve critical societal and environmental challenges. Concerned about an emerging funding gap, M&G Investments has partnered with Phenix Capital Group, a leading global impact investing consulting group, to explore the reasons this gap exists and the implications. Combining M&G research with the Phenix Impact Database, we present a data based analysis of this critical issue.
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VideoThe power of impact equity in building scalable businesses
Impact growth equity is unlocking vital capital for scaling businesses that drive social and environmental progress. With growing investor interest and innovative funding models, the sector is well-positioned to overcome late-stage challenges and fuel meaningful, sustainable growth.
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White papersThe impact advantage: a playbook for sustainable infrastructure investing
In an era of headwinds against generic sustainable investment strategies, infrastructure, and in particular impact in infrastructure, stands out as an investment approach that delivers stable financial returns and robust sustainable outcomes.
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White papersCutting through the noise: Three trends shaping impact investing
Impact investing has been shaped by various trends that have transformed it from a niche initiative to a mainstream strategy. Cut through the noise of headlines and buzzwords to find out what the three trends shaping impact investing today.
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White papersBiodiversity: A year in review
A stock take of current environmental trends makes for a litany of waste, mismanagement and unsustainable consumption. Our annual report illustrates explains how investors have both the means and the opportunity to make a difference.
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White papersDiversity equity and inclusion investment opportunities
Pushback against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives has been simmering since 2023, culminating recently with the actions of the Trump administration in the US. We believe that DEI does not hurt institutions nor compromise merit. In fact, it makes them stronger and enhances long-term performance. While there are constructive ways to improve the implementation of such policies, denouncing them altogether ignores their many benefits.
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White papersExecutive orders and AI: Why the future of energy is not what it used to be
Far from easing into the year, energy market followers could be forgiven for asking why we aren’t already on Easter break. Here, we analyse the root causes of recent volatility, and consider the future prospects – both good and bad – for companies across the energy landscape.
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White papersWhat does Trump 2.0 mean for Paris-aligned investing?
US President Donald Trump’s signal to withdraw from the Paris Climate Agreement for a second time is disappointing. The US reached peak greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2007 and has been on a declining path since. While a second Trump administration could be viewed as – and is likely to be – a setback for the global decarbonisation effort, we should remember that this is a four-year election cycle, and the incumbent is now restricted to a single term in the White House.
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White papersTackling inequality and inequity in healthcare
Inequity and inequality are all too common within the modern healthcare system, even in developed countries. The picture is not entirely bleak, however. As impact investors, we have identified several solutions providers finding ways to reduce and overcome the barriers to healthcare.
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White papersAnalysing greenhouse gas emissions: It’s not as easy as 1-2-3
Finance professionals spend a lot of time analysing companies’ financial accounting. However, as businesses increasingly set targets to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions, extending this level of rigour to emissions accounting is imperative. Here, we consider some of the key challenges.
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White papersThe power of additionality: Why impact investing should focus on building companies that otherwise wouldn’t exist
As impact investing continues to grow, one of its most essential principles—additionality—is becoming a central topic of conversation. In simple terms, additionality refers to the idea that an investment has a positive societal impact that would not have occurred without the intervention of that capital. While it’s easy to focus on financial returns and measurable impact metrics like carbon reduction or jobs created, additionality raises a more profound question: Are these companies addressing problems that would remain unsolved without their innovation?
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White papersReframing the climate question
How should an investor balance a focus on reducing their climate impact with a desire for financial returns? And how does a company management team accommodate what can often be seen as competing demands?
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White papersReconciling alpha with sustainability in impact investing
For over a decade, the investment world has undergone a true paradigm shift. Led by ethically minded pension funds, endowments, and a new generation of investors, this shift reflects a growing commitment to investments that support businesses tackling environmental and social challenges.
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White papersTrends and opportunities in impact credit
The fast-growing market for impact credit offers investors a rich source of opportunity and diversification. Nuveen portfolio managers Stephen Liberatore, CFA® and Jessica Zarzycki, CFA® discuss the trends and opportunities, from global issuance and innovative transactions to defining impact and balancing competing objectives.
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White papersMeeting the capital challenge within impact growth equity
Private equity investors increasingly are seeking to make a positive impact within their investments. For the businesses involved however, there is a problem: availability of late-stage funding. In this article, we explore the reasons why.
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White papersTrends and opportunities in impact credit: Q&A with Stephen Liberatore and Jessica Zarzycki
The fast-growing market for impact credit offers investors a rich source of opportunity and diversification. Nuveen portfolio managers Stephen Liberatore, CFA® and Jessica Zarzycki, CFA® discuss the latest market developments.
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White papersImpact Opportunities Equity, Annual Report 2023
As the debate over animal testing intensifies, the Impact Opportunities Equity team explain why companies must establish robust governance and risk management frameworks to ensure ethical practices in ongoing testing. In this report, we explore why embracing the transition to alternatives not only addresses ethical concerns but also presents unique opportunities for innovation.
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White papersIce cream for dogs: Why energy demand just cannot stop growing
Granular energy transition models all contain a tension between better energy efficiency due to technological progress, and the emergence of new energy use-cases. We look at examples of this dynamic in practice, and consider how it may impact energy demand in the coming decades.
