social investment

While fixed income is the world’s largest asset class, it is not commonly recognised for investments making social or environmental impact. But a recent report explains why investors should look more closely at fixed income assets and catastrophe bonds are highlighted as one impact investing opportunity within the segment.

The stable return profile of catastrophe bonds and their historically low correlation with broader financial markets have traditionally been the main reasons investors considered an allocation of cat bonds into their portfolio, however, more recently, investors have started recognising catastrophe bonds for their social impact, as per a new report from the Man Group.

During the full-year 2023, the catastrophe bond and insurance-linked securities (ILS) team at private markets focused investment manager Schroders Capital allocated over US $817 million to transactions that specifically help in reducing the insurance protection gap.

Tenax Capital, the London based hedge fund investment manager that operates a catastrophe bond strategy, has joined the insurance-linked securities (ILS) industry working-group that focuses on enhancing environmental, social and governance (ESG) transparency in the ILS market.

The ILS ESG Transparency Initiative has been formed as a new insurance-linked securities (ILS) industry group focused on enhancing environmental, social and governance (ESG) transparency in the ILS market, as the Swiss-based working group of ILS managers expands with the addition of international members.

Plenum Investments, the Zurich based specialist catastrophe bond and insurance-linked securities (ILS) investment manager, has announced the appointment of Dr. Andreas Rickert as a new member of its Board of Directors.

Despite the backlash against environmental, social and governance (ESG) investing in certain parts of the United States and elsewhere, capital raising for ESG investments, funds and strategies continues apace, and for investors ESG remains a key driver of allocations.

Bill Dubinsky, Chief Executive Officer of Gallagher Securities, has cautioned that building in more ESG features is potentially helpful but “by no means a guaranteed win-win” for the catastrophe bond product, or for ILS more generally.

For the insurance-linked securities (ILS) market, the ‘G’, or governance, within ESG, should always have been a given, as the industry needs to have strong governance around its underwriting practices, Luca Albertini, CEO of Leadenhall Capital Partners explained to Artemis.

Investor interest in institutional asset classes that are environmental, social and governance (ESG) appropriate is set to increase rapidly, which will help ESG assets under management around the world expand 84% by 2026, according to a new report from PwC.