Green is now, and the future, in health, food, lifestyle, and economics; and no bank or investor can ignore it. Nedbank has gone ahead of rest of the pack to be top in South Africa.
In February 2020, Euromoney awarded Nedbank Private Wealth the second-best bank in the category of Environment, Social and Governance (ESG)/Impact Investing in Africa; second to UBS Group AG, a Switzerland based multinational investment bank. They moved from 5th place in 2019 outpacing Standard Bank (Africa’s largest lender) and Absa, who in 2019 occupied 2nd and 4th respectively. There must have been something that Nedbank did in these few years, that has made them climb the Impact Investing ladder to that top spot.
Analysing it closely, let’s begin with that 186 years in the banking business, Nedbank believes and has practised “creating value by using their financial expertise to do good”. In essence, they are the go-to for ESG or Impact Investing.
What is this ESG/Impact Investing?
Impact investing refers to investments “made into companies, organizations, and funds with the intention to generate a measurable, beneficial social or environmental impact alongside a financial return”. Impact investing seeks to support organizations that will create social and environmental benefits, in addition to generating financial returns. Impact investors want their money to make a difference for employees, clients, and other groups in society — while creating financial value.
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