Australian pension fund becomes shareholder in USD 3 billion Swiss-based impact asset manager

Christian Super takes a significant minority equity shareholding in responsAbility

June 20194 min read

Sydney and Zurich, 27 June 2019 — Australian pension fund Christian Super announced today that it has acquired a significant minority shareholding in responsAbility Investments AG, the international asset manager headquartered in Switzerland, thereby becoming the company’s first international shareholder. Founded in 2003, responsAbility is one of the world’s leading impact asset managers with a focus on SDG-aligned investments in emerging economies. The company manages USD 3 billion in assets for private, institutional and public investors through a range of private debt and private equity funds.

The investment underlines the strategic intention of both companies to continue to expand their activities in the impact investment market. With Christian Super as a new shareholder, recognised by the Global Steering Group on Impact Investing as inaugural Asset Owner of the Year, responsAbility is broadening its shareholder base with an international investor fully aligned with its own values and culture. By investing in responsAbility, Christian Super is deepening its support for the growth of the impact investing sector. Both companies are signatories of the IFC’s Operating Principles for Impact Investment Management.

With 10 offices worldwide, responsAbility has been a pioneer over the last 15 years in designing and managing for-profit investment solutions to promote the growth of privately-owned companies in inclusive finance, renewable energy and sustainable agriculture in over 90 emerging economies. Through their inclusive business models, these portfolio companies help to meet the basic needs of broad sections of the population and to drive economic development. Total revenues of portfolio companies are over USD 18 billion. responsAbility has expanded its investor base for its range of 15 funds over the years from Switzerland to various international markets, particularly the Nordics, the Netherlands and Germany.

The share capital of responsAbility Investments AG is predominantly held by a broad range of prominent Swiss financial institutions, including Baumann & Cie, Raiffeisen Switzerland, Swiss Re Foundation and Vontobel Beteiligungen AG as well as by private investors. The remaining shares are held by responsAbility’s management and staff.

Reto Schnarwiler, Chairman of the Board of responsAbility, commented: “We are delighted to welcome Christian Super as one of responsAbility’s shareholders, further broadening and internationalizing the company’s shareholder base. This is an important mark of recognition for responsAbility, as we have attracted the interest of a committed impact investor far beyond our original home market. We look forward to working with Christian Super to further expand the scope and impact of our investments in emerging economies.”

Ross Piper, CEO of Christian Super, commented: “Christian Super and responsAbility have both been pioneers in the impact investing space for over a decade. We share a strong values alignment and a focus on the SDGs as a framework for investing capital for financial return and meaningful impact. Our investment in responsAbility follows on from our establishment of Brightlight Impact Advisory in 2016, and signals our continued commitment to the growth of the impact investment market and to designing and delivering high-quality investment solutions to meet investors’ financial, social and environmental goals.”

Consilium Capital was adviser to responsAbility Investments AG on the transaction.

About Christian Super (www.christiansuper.com.au) Christian Super is a growing Australian pension fund with over 27,000 members and more than AUD 1.5 billion in funds under management. Operating since 1984, the fund invests its members’ retirement funds ethically in line with Christian values. They are also a world leader in impact investing, with around 10% of funds in investments that aim to generate both financial returns and positive social or environmental outcomes. 

About responsAbility Investments AG (www.responsability.com) A leading asset manager for impact investments in emerging economies, responsAbility manages USD 3 billion of assets through a range of investment vehicles that provide private debt and private equity to some 540 companies with inclusive business models across 90 countries. Founded in 2003, the company is headquartered in Zurich, Switzerland, and has local offices in Bangkok, Geneva, Hong Kong, Lima, Luxembourg, Mumbai, Nairobi, Oslo and Paris. 

Contacts Christian Super Astrid Dare adare@christiansuper.com.au +61 410 452 010

Contact

Stephanie Bilo
responsAbility Investments
+41 44 403 0553
stephanie.bilo@responsAbility.com

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