responsAbility is appointed Fund Manager for The Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets (SIFEM)

Zurich January 10, 2023 – responsAbility Investments AG was awarded the portfolio management of SIFEM (Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets) as the result of an open procurement procedure conducted in conformity with Swiss legislation. The mandate starts on 1st March 2023 and will last until 31 December 2027, with the option to extend for an additional five years. The outgoing fund manager, Obviam AG, continues to act as portfolio manager ad interim until end of February 2023 and will collaborate closely with responsAbility for the hand-over of the mandate.

SIFEM is the development finance institution of the Swiss confederation and has, since its inception in 2011, invested approximately 1.2 billion USD, predominantly in private equity funds and financial institutions. The fund objectives focus on promoting sustainable economic growth, development of markets and creation of decent jobs in emerging markets. In addition, SIFEM aims to contribute to climate change mitigation and advocates gender equality through the economic empowerment of women.

responsAbility as well as SIFEM are active members of the 2XChallenge Initiative, promoting gender equality at the portfolio level through gender lens investing. Since its inception in 2003 responsAbility has invested over 13bn USD of impact capital in emerging markets across three investment themes: Climate Finance, Financial Inclusion and Sustainable Food.

Rochus Mommartz, CEO at responsAbility: “We are thrilled to have been awarded the mandate to manage the SIFEM portfolio. In leveraging the natural alignment of our objectives and our long-term expertise in impact investments in emerging markets, we aim to contribute to further growth of the SIFEM portfolio and maximize the potential impact to meet the mandate’s objectives and contribute towards the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.”

With the onboarding of responsAbility as of March 2023 completed, SIFEM will operate with a new setup. responsAbility Investment AG will act as the portfolio manager and be responsible for the investment sourcing, advisory, and investment oversight, while Tameo Impact Fund Solutions SA will act as SIFEM’s business services manager.

About SIFEM

The Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets (SIFEM) is the Swiss Development Finance Institution (DFI). It is owned by the Swiss Government and is an integral part of the instruments of economic development cooperation. SIFEM is specialised in providing long-term financing to small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and other fast-growing companies in developing and emerging countries, focusing on the priority countries of Switzerland’s development cooperation. This helps create and secure more and better jobs and reduce poverty while also contributing towards the integration of these countries into the global economic system.

About responsAbility Investments AG

responsAbility Investments AG is a leading impact asset manager specializing in private market investments across three investment themes to directly contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Financial Inclusion, to finance the growth of Micro & SMEs; Climate Finance, to contribute to a net zero pathway; and Sustainable Food, to sustainably feed an ever-growing population. All responsAbility investment solutions target specific measurable impact alongside market returns.

Since its inception in 2003, responsAbility has deployed over USD 13 billion in impact investments. With over 200 employees collaborating across seven offices, the company currently manages USD 3.6 billion in assets across 280 portfolio companies in 75 countries. Since 2022 responsAbility is part of M&G plc, the international savings, and investments business, and contributes to enhancing M&G’s capabilities in impact investing.

About Tameo Impact Fund Solutions SA

Tameo is a Swiss impact investing specialist serving the financial industry with independent expert solutions. Tameo guides investment funds, managers, and investors through the entire impact investing journey. It offers the most comprehensive online database of impact funds, customized analyses, and independent valuations. Through its research and advisory services, Tameo empowers clients to move towards best-in-class impact measurement & management. Tameo acts as the business services manager of the Swiss Investment Fund for Emerging Markets (SIFEM).