Imfino News

Monday, 9 July 2018: Pengana Capital Group Limited (ASX: PCG) today announced the launch of the 2017 WHEB Asset Management (‘WHEB’) Impact Report and Impact Calculator, which for the first time incorporates measurement of three social themes in addition to the five environmental themes.

In 2015, WHEB, the investment manager for the Pengana WHEB Sustainable Impact Fund (‘the Fund’), was the first listed equity investor to publish an impact report. In this fourth edition, WHEB breaks new ground as the first listed equity investor to report on the positive social impact of an investment strategy.

The report shows how $1 million invested in 2017 is linked to positive social impact including:

• 32 people receiving healthcare treatment;

• $118,000 of costs saved in healthcare systems; and

• The provision of 63 days of tertiary education.

In addition, the $1 million investment generated positive environmental impact, which included:

• The generation of 387 MWh of renewable energy – equivalent to the annual energy use of 25 Australian households;

• Treatment of 8.7m litres of waste water, equivalent to the annual production of 70 Australian households; and

• Recycled or recovered 52 tonnes of waste material equivalent to the total waste produced by 31 Australian households.

The Impact Report and Calculator can be accessed at pengana.com/impact-calculator.

The Fund is managed by the highly experienced team at WHEB, who have run the same strategy in the UK for over 12 years. They are regarded as being at the forefront of sustainable impact investing globally and play active roles in many of the organisations leading the thinking in this space.

WHEB was recently honoured for the second year running as one of BCorp UK’s ‘Best for the World’ for creating positive impact for workers, environment, community and customers. It was also awarded both ‘Best Sustainable Investment Fund Management Group’ at Investment Week’s 2017 Sustainable Investment Awards and ‘Best Natural Resources and Sustainability Fund’ at Investment Week’s 2017 Specialist Investment Awards.

Damian Crowley, Director of Distribution at Pengana said: “We are seeing significant growth in the number of investors and their advisors wanting to invest their money sustainably. This latest Impact Report and the Impact Calculator illustrate how investors are having a positive impact on people and the planet, by quantifying the positive impact of their investments.”

George Latham, Managing Partner of WHEB Asset Management added: “The Fund’s superior risk-adjusted returns are testament to WHEB’s fundamental investment philosophy: that companies producing goods and services that address the challenges of sustainability are exposed to structural growth and well positioned to deliver superior returns. We believe our investment performance is because of, rather than despite, the Fund’s focus on businesses with a positive impact.”