ABN Amro has created a fund that will invest in companies with a sustainable impact. The so-called 'Sustainable Impact Fund' will be filled with 425 million euros.
The bank says the sustainability fund will make "private equity investments" in companies "with a proven business model that are ready for the next phase of growth" and "venture capital investments" of between EUR 500,000 and EUR 4 million "if there is a proven concept."
As a result, both start-up and more mature companies are eligible for investment, says Rutger van Nouhuijs, a member of ABN Amro's Executive Committee. "What matters is that we provide promising companies that contribute to accelerating the transition to a sustainable society with a good capital base."
The fund focuses mainly on Dutch companies, but other companies from the northwest of Europe can also apply for an investment.
"We see that in some situations companies need venture capital. With this fund, we now offer a one-stop shop in that area as well," says Van Nouhuijs. "Companies that link sustainable returns to a good business plan can turn to ABN Amro SIF."
The fund is a wholly owned subsidiary of ABN Amro and distinguishes three areas in which it will invest: circular economy, energy transition and social impact. The bank already invested in sustainable energy projects through the Energy Transition Fund, but that fund is now merging into the Sustainable Impact Fund.
Two investments have already been made in the past month. The first was made in Dutch company Envision, which develops software for smartglasses, and the other in Foodlogica, which uses a sustainable fleet to deliver chilled food in densely populated cities.
