- The two funds assessed outperform the industry average by far
- 1st out of 11 top ranking for Aquila Capital’s European Hydro S.C.Sp.
- Norwegian hydropower plant asset awarded maximum five-star rating
Hamburg, 13. September 2019 – Aquila Capital has cemented its status as a leading sustainable investment manager, according to an analysis by GRESB. The results from the assessment highlight the firm’s outstanding performance among its peers and reinforce its commitment to sustainability and transparency for its investors.
GRESB is an investor-driven organization that uses ESG data and a scoring system to produce benchmark reports and portfolio analysis tools to assess the sustainability performance of real asset sector portfolios and assets.
Aquila Capital’s European Hydro S.C.Sp. came first out of 11 in a global comparison of its European renewable power peer group. Its GRESB score was 68, well above the peer average of 52. The Aquila Capital European Hydropower Fund S.A. scored 62 compared to the same average and was third out of 11 in the global comparison. Both funds were awarded a four-star rating.
The company Småkraft AS, Europe’s biggest independent operator of small-scale hydropower plants and one of the assets managed by Aquila Capital, was awarded the maximum five-star rating. It was ranked second out of 24 in an analysis of the Northern European renewable power maintenance and operation sector. Its score of 73 outperforms the 45 average of its peers by far and is an impressive increase of seven points on its 2018 total.
Erik Røysem Sterud, Chief Financial Officer Småkraft, comments: “Our investors communicate high expectation to all aspects of our business. The focus is not solely on financial performance. Sustainability and continuous learning are equally important. When our surroundings raise the bar, we jump higher, and that’s why our GRESB results are significantly improving for the second year in a row. ESG, operational excellence, and financial performance are co-dependent. It’s a symbiosis which makes perfect sense. Being good is good for business.”
Roman Rosslenbroich, Co-Founder and CEO of Aquila Capital, adds: “The results from the GRESB report reflect the work that we are doing to make sure that Aquila Capital is at the forefront of sustainable investing. Our vision is defined by a commitment to acting responsibly towards our environment, our investors and our employees. This is what sets us apart and we believe it is crucial to our success in the long term. Sustainable investing has always been integral to our values and underpins all aspects of our business.”
Aquila Capital has an unwavering commitment to ESG values and is continuing to expand its investment focus on renewable energy and, increasingly, green logistics. It recently announced further capital commitments of 40 million euros for its European Hydropower Fund as well as entering the Portuguese real estate market with the development of 115,000 square meters of green logistics properties in Lisbon.
Additional information regarding ESG topics can be found here: www.aquila-capital.de/en/sustainability/our-disclosures
About Aquila Capital:
Aquila Group is an experienced and long-term investor in essential, real asset investments. Founded in 2001 by Dr. Dieter Rentsch and Roman Rosslenbroich, the Group currently manages EUR 8.2 billion for its clients worldwide (as at 30.06.2019).
The business focuses on secular and sustainable trends in renewable energy, social housing, green logistics, infrastructure, timber and agriculture. Dedicated specialist investment teams with entrepreneurial mindsets draw on their sector networks and experience to screen, develop, finance, manage and operate investments along the entire value chain.
Local, on-site management teams are central to the company’s operations, with 14 investment offices in 11 countries. Comprehensive operational capabilities, more than 300 employees at group level, intensive asset management and a passion for detail ensure asset and product performance as well as the timely deployment of capital.
Aquila Group believes in stringent corporate governance. With its two AIFMs in Luxembourg and Germany, it is subject to the highest European regulatory standards.
Embedded in its activities lies a passion for real assets and living ESG, better every day.