Over the next four years, a.s.r. and Triodos Bank will jointly lend EUR 600 million to sustainable businesses. The financing is intended for companies, institutions and projects in the area of green energy, the sustainabilisation of property and the healthcare sector. The initiative stems from a.s.r.’s desire to make a sustainable impact with its investments on the business community and, where possible, to further enhance it. Triodos Bank sees the cooperation as a chance to realise larger projects and in doing so, accelerate the transition to a sustainable economy.

The joint financing agreement will focus on sustainable initiatives in the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, France, England and Spain. Triodos Bank’s international network of business relationships will be of great advantage in finding the right investment opportunities. Triodos Bank has been active as financier in green energy, the sustainabilisation of property and healthcare for a long time. The EUR 600 million of this collaboration comes on top of this.

The collaboration will be for a period of at least four years. The underlying principle is that both parties take part in each financing for at least 30%. The financing arrangements may vary from EUR 5 million up to a maximum of EUR 70 million per investment. a.s.r. asset management will act as portfolio manager on behalf of a.s.r. Institutional clients of a.s.r. asset management will also be offered the opportunity to participate.

Chris Figee, CFO of a.s.r.: ‘The common goal of a.s.r. and Triodos Bank is to make the world more sustainable. We perfectly complement one another in this financing agreement. Triodos Bank has the knowledge and the network in the area of sustainable banking. As a socially engaged insurer we, through a.s.r. asset management, seek to provide for sustainable investments for our private clients and external institutional parties for which we act as manager. Together, we try to make the world a better place.’

Pierre Aeby, CFO of Triodos Bank: ‘More and more attention is paid to sustainability these days. Financial institutions are crucial in this. After all, with today’s financing and investment decisions, we influence the quality of society and the living conditions for decades to come. Only if we make really sustainable decisions, will we be able to help realise the necessary transition towards a greener and more social economy. This cooperation of two financial institutions shows what the industry can mean for the transition to a more sustainable economy.’