MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: German Asset Management Firm, Finance In Motion, Signs the United Nations' Principles for Responsible Investment

Finance in Motion (FIM), a German asset management firm with EUR 800 million under advisory, has signed the United Nations’ (UNs’) Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI), thereby pledging to integrate sustainability into its investment processes. The PRI are declarations jointly developed by the UN Environment Program Finance Initiative and the UN Global Compact.

The six fundamental principles as defined by the UN are:

To incorporate environmental, social and corporate governance (ESG) issues into investment analysis and decision making processes
To be active owners and incorporate ESG issues into ownership policies and practices
To seek appropriate disclosure on ESG issues by the entities in which they are invested in
To promote acceptance and implementation of the principles within the investment industry
To work together to enhance the effectiveness of implementing the principles
To report on activities and progress towards implementing the principles

FIM reports that its investment process already includes periodic impact analyses as well as social performance and responsible finance assessments. Finance in Motion is currently advising the microfinance fund, European Fund for Southeast Europe (EFSE), and the energy efficiency and renewable energy fund, Green for Growth Fund, Southeast Europe (GGF).

According to the 2009 Annual Report of the PRI Initiative, more than 600 international investors and asset managers representing USD 18 trillion of investments under management have signed the PRI. Existing signatories include several other organizations involved in microfinance such as: Developing World Markets, BlueOrchard, Calvert Investments, Minlam Asset Management Limited Liability Company (LLC), Sarona Asset Management, Triodos Investment Management, Societe Generale Asset Management, Sal Oppenheim, JP Morgan Asset Management, Internationale Nederlanden Groep (ING) Investment Management and BNP Paribas Asset Management.

About Finance In Motion:

Finance in Motion is an alternative asset manager focused on development finance with EUR 800 million (USD 1 billion) in committed capital under advisory as of June 2010. The firm provides investment and technical assistance management services, focusing on micro-, small and medium-sized enterprise finance, housing finance, as well as on energy efficiency and renewable energy finance in developing countries. The company has offices in Frankfurt/Main, Germany, and 8 other cities in Southeast Europe.

By Matthew Fox, Research Assistant

Sources and Additional Resources:

Finance In Motion Press Release, 20 July 2010: http://fim.syscp.basehosts.de/finance-in-motion.com/Press-releases—Press-Release—2010-07-20-Finance-in-Motion-signs-the-United-Nations—-Principles-for-Responsible-Investment——_site.index..html_dir._siteid.86_nav.94_entryid.153_likecms.html

MicroCapital Universe: Finance In Motion (FIN): https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Finance+in+Motion

MicroCapital Universe: Developing World Markets (DWM): https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Developing+World+Markets+(DWM)

MicroCapital Universe: BlueOrchard: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=BlueOrchard+Private+Equity+Fund

MicroCapital Universe: Calvert: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Calvert+Foundation

MicroCapital Universe: Minlam: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Minlam+Microfinance+Fund

MicroCapital Universe: Sarona: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Sarona+Global+Investment+Fund+(SGIF)

MicroCapital Universe: Triodos: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Triodos+Microfinance+Fund

MicroCapital Universe: Societe Generale: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=Societe+Generale

MicroCapital Universe: JP Morgan: https://www.microcapital.org/microfinanceuniverse/tiki-index.php?page=JP+Morgan+Social+Finance