NETHERLANDS - ABP has committed US$75m to a private equity fund managed by BlueOrchard, in what is its first investment in a private equity microfinance fund. The BlueOrchard private equity fund is incorporated as a special investment fund in Luxembourg and is capitalised at US$111m following ABP’s commitment. ABP had already invested US$40m in BlueOrchard [...]

World Microfinance Forum Geneva. International Symposium Geneva, October 1-2, 2008. Building Fair Financial Markets for All - Profitable Investment Opportunities in Micro and Small Businesses. Conference outline: Content: How investors can unleash the potential of microfinance; Guest country: China, the world’s largest market for microfinance?; Audience: Principal investors, intermediaries, microfinance providers and public [...]

Date: 7 November 2008 Location: Geneva Venue: Palais des Nations, Room XXV Description: UNCTAD and the PRI will host a unique public-private sector workshop to explore how the investment community and policy-makers can work together to further common goals. Investors alone can only go so far in encouraging responsible corporate practices. At some point, public [...]

L’esprit des rencontres internationales Ethique, Finance & Responsabilité : Le contexte d’une finance toujours plus mondialisée amplifie la tentation des acteurs de se réfugier dans des paradigmes rassurants et d’évacuer ainsi la question plus complexe de l’effet de leurs décisions sur le bien commun. Ainsi, au niveau individuel et institutionnel, les critères gouvernant la prise [...]

Swisscanto aims to capitalise on the sustainable development of emerging market companies through the planned launch of a new fund. The Swiss-based firm is planning to launch the Swisscanto (LU) Equity Fund Green Invest Emerging Markets fund in late August. Managed by Gerhard Wagner, the fund will invest in companies which contribute to and stand [...]