Transparency, a priority in listed impact investing
A pioneer in listed impact investing, La Financière de l’Echiquier – LFDE is today publishing the annual impact reports of its four impact funds, together with the second report on its corporate Climate & Biodiversity strategy.
The publication of these reports reflects the vital importance that LFDE places on transparency. In an increasingly complex regulatory environment – SFDR, European CSRD, European Taxonomy – the need to increase transparency and make investment decisions through the lens of double materiality is imperative.
The impact reports of three SFDR Article 9 funds, audited by independent consulting firm Better Way, are available free of charge on lfde.com:
- The first annual impact report of Echiquier Health Impact For All, dedicated to access to healthcare.
- The second annual impact report of Echiquier Climate & Biodiversity Impact Europe, a strategy dedicated to ecological transition and biodiversity protection, through which LFDE contributes to the endowment fund of the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris.
- The fifth annual impact report of Echiquier Positive Impact Europe, the first fund aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals, launched in 2017.
These publications report on the impact generated by the portfolio companies. They present the resources deployed to contribute to the impact of the strategies, drawing on best market practices.
The report on LFDE’s Climate & Biodiversity strategy provides an overview of initiatives for each of the strategy’s nine commitments in 2022. The aim of this strategy is to integrate climate and biodiversity issues into all of the company’s business lines and decision-making processes, particularly investments. This second report also meets the requirements of Article 29 of the French Climate and Energy Law, as well as the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD).
Bettina Ducat, Chief Executive Officer of LFDE, said: “Transparency towards our clients is paramount. These five major publications are benchmarks in the Paris financial centre. They reflect our high standards and ambition in the field of listed impact investing, a priority area for the asset management industry and for La Financière de l’Echiquier since 2017.”
Olivier de Berranger, Deputy CEO and CEO, added: “As pioneers in listed impact investing, we extended our quest for impact in 2022, with the launch of Echiquier Health Impact For All, the first social impact fund in our range. We intend to intensify our commitment to impact, while seeking first-class financial performance for the capital entrusted by our clients.”
Coline Pavot, Head of Responsible Investment Research at LFDE, added: “In a constantly changing regulatory environment, the publication of these reports draws on best market practices, stemming notably from the work of the French SIF, France Invest and the Institut de la Finance Durable. Our goal is to offer our clients an exemplary approach subject to continuous improvement.”