Press releases

Zurich and Phnom Penh - Cambodia’s leading microfinance institution Prasac has signed an agreement for a USD 20 million green lending facility with a responsAbility-managed fund focusing on climate financing. The facility that took effect in October 2016, enables Prasac to pioneer green lending in Cambodia by offering its customers financing in the areas of energy efficiency and renewable energy.

Global micro and SME finance markets are expected to grow by 10-15% next year according to the newly published responsAbility ‘Micro and SME Finance Market Outlook 2017’. The Asia Pacific region remains the principal driver of this trend. In addition to traditional microfinance, SME financing in developing countries is booming.

Zurich - Developing economies will account for the vast majority of growth in global energy demand and CO2 emissions over the coming decades. Innovative investment vehicles targeting this part of the world enable private entities to invest, along with public institutions, in renewable-energy generation and energy efficiency. With this objective, Netherlands-based ASN Bank recently invested in a responsAbility-managed fund set up as a public-private partnership and aimed at mitigating climate change.
 

The Hague/Zurich – The Dutch development bank FMO has sold a portion of its subordinated debt portfolio amounting to USD 67.4 million to three investment vehicles managed by Swiss-based asset manager responsAbility Investments AG. The portion of the portfolio comprises transactions with nine financial institutions active across 14 developing and emerging countries which predominantly serve small to mid-sized enterprises.

Zurich - Netherlands-based leading insurance group Aegon is joining the ranks of institutional investors which entrust their funds to responsAbility-managed investment solutions. Following a thorough investigation of the potential of microfinance, Aegon has now disbursed its first investments in this specific area of development investments.

Zurich - responsAbility Investments AG, which specializes in development investments, is continuing its success story: In 2015 – as in previous years – the asset manager attracted over USD 500 million of new assets, which were invested via 12 different investment vehicles in a total of 522 companies in 95 developing countries and emerging economies. Strong growth was recorded in energy and agricultural investments in particular. 

Zurich - responsAbility Investments AG is adapting its management structure in preparation for 2016. The Swiss asset manager that specializes in the field of development investments will – under the leadership of the new CEO Rochus Mommartz – extend its Executive Management with the appointment of two new members representing the areas of Equity Investments and Regions & Operations.

Zurich - According to current forecasts, global energy requirements are set to increase by more than 30% by 2040, with the additional demand being driven 100% by non-OECD countries. (1) Measures to ensure the more efficient use of energy and the increased production of renewable energy in emerging economies and developing counties are therefore of key importance in order to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. With its targeted investment products, the Swiss asset manager responsAbility Investments AG is opening up this growth market in which there is strong demand for private sector investments in emerging economies and developing countries.

Zurich - Global microfinance markets are expected to grow by 10-15% in 2016, although growth rates will differ markedly between regions. This is the key finding of the newly released responsAbility Microfinance Market Outlook 2016. The reference publication’s sixth edition presents an in-depth and concise overview of the expected developments in the microfinance industry over the next year.

Zurich - Klaus Tischhauser, Co-Founder & CEO of responsAbility Investments AG, will step down from his function as CEO at the end of 2015. Rochus Mommartz, a longstanding member of responsAbility’s Management Board, has been named as his successor. At the same time, it has been decided that the number of members on the Management Board will increase from three to five. This step will enable the company to strengthen its leadership team and to prepare for the next stage in its development.