14:30 - 16:15

Amit Bouri (United States of America)
Director of Strategy & Development - Global Impact Investing Network

Harry Hummels (The Netherlands)
Director - SNS Asset Management N.V.

The Promise of Impact Investing

Following a number of initiatives in the USA the old continent is gradually developing an interest in Impact Investing. A variety of investment opportunities emerge combining a strong focus on financial with an equally strong emphasis on non-financial outcomes. Examples come from the area of microfinance, new energy investments, clean technology, forestry, and agriculture.

Harry Hummels and his friend and colleague Theo Brouwers are working at the forefront of this new emerging field. Following the launch of the SNS Institutional Microfinance Funds they are currently pushing the envelop by preparing the launch of an Institutional Agricultural Fund at SNS Asset Management focusing on investments in Southern Africa.

The presentation will focus on the relevance to investors of this new phenomenon of impact investing:
- What is it?
- Why is it important?
- For whom is it relevant?
- What are both the risks and the benefits?

The core of the presentation will consist of the structuring of an agricultural investment fund focusing on agricultural development in Southern Africa. There are a lot of myths circling around impact investing – and more particularly around investments in African agriculture. We demystify the myths and show that these investments are not only possible but are already leading to very tangible results – both social and economical as well as financial.

Roger Frank (United States of America)
Managing Partner - I3 Advisors LLC

Impact Investing – History, Challenges & Trends

While the concept of “Impact Investing” is on the verge of a tipping point for broader market acceptance, it’s been a very long, hard road to get here. One important step in the process was the creation of the first cross-border microfinance investment vehicle which became the model that brought billions of dollars into the field. To successfully create & place, MIV #1, Roger Frank spent two years meeting with investors around the world convincing them that poor women in emerging markets was a good credit risk. His latest project, the i3 Global Impact Fund, is an extension of that model which is using the capital markets for sustainable development.

In this presentation he will discuss the history, challenges and trends in Impact Investing upon which the field can grow.

Hamid Tawfiki (Switzerland )
Chief Executive Officer - Avenir Global Investment Advisory SA

Focus on Exercising an Impact on Sustainable Development: Avenir's Way

During the Age of the Great Moderation of the 80s and the 90s policies related to macro‐economic stability and market liberalization, such as for instance contained fiscal deficits or equal treatment of foreign investors, became increasingly important criteria for investment policy, critically shaping the investment asset allocation decision‐making process. The Age of Sustainable Development will see a widening of the scope of public policy to include such important issues as population health, ecosystem vitality, sustainable savings and resource efficiency. As a result these issues will also become integral part of the standard toolset of criteria for investment strategy and asset allocation decision‐making. The founding partners of AVENIR have an ambition of setting standards for this radically new investment environment.

James Vaccaro (United Kingdom)
Head of Investment Banking - Triodos Bank

Investing Where It Matters:

How direct impact investing can transform the experience for the "conscious investor" and how financial institutions need to respond.